Protective facial mask

ABSTRACT

A protective facial mask covering the oral and nasal cavities. It slips over the user&#39;s head and comprises a single generally cylindrical, generally tubular, piece of an expandable impervious material open at each end. Two diametrically opposed ear slots and an opening below and extending between the ear slots hold the mask in place and provide for better conformity to the user&#39;s head. A filtered breathing cannula on the interior of the mask allows air to enter the nasal cavity only.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 802,838, filed Nov. 27,1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,271.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a facial mask and more particularly to aprotective facial mask which covers both the nasal and oral cavities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past there have been many attempts to provide protective facialdevices for a variety of reasons. Some facial devices protected only theoral cavity, while other devices protected both the oral and nasalcavities. There are devices which protected the facial cavities fromsolids only, allowing liquids and air to enter into the facial cavities.Still other devices prevented solids, liquids and air from entering thenasal or oral cavity altogether.

Heretofore, the art has been without a protective facial device whichcovers both the oral and nasal cavities, thereby preventing liquids orsolids from entering the facial cavities, while allowing air to enterthe nasal cavity only. Such a protective facial device has a myriad ofuses, including preventing the spread of germs, bacteria and viruses,preventing dust particles or potentially toxic sprayed liquids fromentering the facial cavities and protecting the facial cavities fromextreme weather conditions. Virtually anyone needing facial protectionfrom solids, particles, sprayed liquids, liquids or air will have usefor such a device.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide aprotective facial mask which prevents solids or liquids from enteringthe facial cavities while allowing air to enter the nasal cavity only.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protectivefacial mask which is self-adjusting and secures itself to the user'shead comfortably.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protectivefacial mask which filters air entering into the nasal cavity.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a protectivefacial mask which can easily be put on and taken off by the user.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a protectivefacial mask that is particularly well adapted to ease and economy ofmanufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention areachieved in the embodiment illustrated herein. The present inventionresides in the provision of a protective facial mask which is worn belowthe eyes and covers both the oral and nasal cavities. The mask slipsover the user's head and comprises a single generally cylindrical,generally tubular, piece of an expandable impervious material open ateach end. Two diametrically opposed ear slots and an opening below andextending between the ear slots hold the mask in place and provide forbetter conformity to the user's head. The impervious material is anexpandable latex compound which conforms to the contours of the user'shead when in place. A breathing cannula on the interior of the maskallows air to enter the nasal cavity only. This method of constructionallows air to enter the nasal cavity while preventing solids or liquidsfrom entering either the oral or nasal cavity of the user. The breathingcannula contains filtering means to preclude any foreign matter (i.e.particles) from entering the nasal cavity. A pocket-like extension liesbelow the cannula over the mouth of the user to facilitate speech andprovide greater comfort. The mask can be comfortably worn for anextended period of time since neither breathing, hearing, speech norsight are impaired.

The mask is of a relatively simple design and can easily be put on andtaken off by the user. The mask can also be folded into a compact sizefor ease and economy of packaging, carrying and storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will be more readily understandable from aconsideration of the accompany drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a protective facial mask of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mask of FIG. 1 being worn by a user.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the mask, taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the mask, taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the breathing cannula of the mask of FIG.1.

FIG. 6 is a rear view in perspective of another embodiment of the maskhaving fastening means on the back portions thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In reference to the drawing, FIG. 1 is an isometric view of theprotective facial mask 10 of the present invention. The mask 10 slipsover a user's head and covers both the nasal and oral cavities. The mask10 comprises a single, integral, generally cylindrical piece of anexpandable impervious material 12 open at each end. The imperviousmaterial 12 may be semi-transparent to reveal the user's face. Twodiametrically opposed ear slots 14 hold the generally tubular mask 10 inplace on a user's head. Also, there is an opening 16 below and extendingbetween the ear slots 14. As FIG. 1 further illustrates, a standardadult-size, surgical quality breathing cannula 18 is provided on theinterior forward portion of the mask 10. The breathing cannula 18 allowsair to enter the nasal cavity only.

FIG. 2 shows the mask 10 in place on a user's head. Neither liquids norsolids can enter the oral or nasal cavity while the mask is worn, yetair can enter the nasal cavity and only that. A pocket-like extension 20lies below the breathing cannula 18 to allow the user to speak and wearthe device in comfort.

FIG. 3, a front view of a user wearing the mask 10, shows that thedevice lies below the eyes, thereby providing for unobstructed sight.The cannula 18 precludes the mask from sliding up over the user's eyesduring use. Thus, the device can be worn for an extended period of timesince neither breathing, hearing, speech, nor sight are impaired.

FIG. 4, a rear view of a user wearing the device, shows how the two earslots 14 and the opening 16 provide for good conformity to the user'shead, while also holding the device in place. The breathing cannula 18,as shown in FIG. 5, provides two nostril tubes 22 that fit into eachnostril of a user and allow the user to breathe freely. Filtering means24 within the cannula 18 prevent foreign matter such as dust or sprayedliquids from entering the nasal cavity.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the mask 10 with fastening means 26on the back portions thereof. In this embodiment, the sheet ofimpervious material 12 is folded into tubular shape and fastened closed.The fastening means 26 can be opened for removal of the mask 10.

The protective facial mask of the present invention is quite useful asit prevents liquids and solids from entering the facial cavities whileallowing air to enter the nasal cavity for breathing. The unique designof the mask provides for both comfort and stability when in use. Themask may be made of a lightweight material, easily folded for packaging,carrying and storage. The device has a variety of uses from preventingthe spread of germs and bacteria to protecting workers from undesirableparticles or sprayed liquids incidental to their occupations.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. This disclosures anddescriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to bein any sense limiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective facial mask covering the openingsinto the oral and nasal cavities comprising:a sheet of expandablematerial impervious to liquids or solids to serve as a fluid barrier tothe oral and nasal cavities, said sheet having sufficient flexibility toconform to the shape of the face, said sheet being dimensioned toencompass an area sufficient to cover the wearer's face from over thechin to over the nose, means mounted on said sheet serving as breathingconduits for the nasal cavities, said means extending from an uppermargin of said area to a zone proximate the wearer's nostrils so as topermit nasal breathing while the facial mask is being worn, and means onsaid sheet for retaining the mask on the head of the wearer.
 2. Aprotective facial mask for wearing below the eyes to cover the oral andnasal cavities comprising:a single, one-piece generally sheet-like pieceof expandable, liquid-impervious material configured to provide an upperedge for engaging a wearer's face below the eyes and above the nostrils,and providing a lower edge for engaging the wearer below the chin; saidpiece having retention portions thereon for encircling the head of thewearer, and means on said sheet-like material on each side of thewearer's nose serving to provide breathing passageways leading from theupper edge of said piece to the nostrils so that air enters the nasalcavity, whereby said means, the retention portions and the upper andlower edges retain the mask in position to protect the nostrils andmouth while exposing the eyes and to enable nasal breathing.
 3. A facialmask for covering the oral and nasal cavities comprising: a one-piece,generally elastically expandable sheet of liquid-impervious material, anupper and a lower retention on said sheet, said retention portionsserving to retain the mask in operative position on the head, said sheetproviding an upper edge for engaging the wearer's face below the eyesand above the nostrils and a lower edge for engaging the wearer belowthe chin, and breathing cannulae secured to the interior of said sheetand leading from said upper edge on each side of the wearer's nose to anostril engaging portion below said edge serving to permit air to enterinto the nasal cavity, the two retention portions, the upper and loweredges, and the cannula retaining the mask in position to protect thenostrils and the mouth while exposing the eyes and ears and enablingnasal breathing.